Protestors at the Virginia Tech campus opening in Potomac Yard (staff photo by Vernon Miles)
Protestors disrupt Gov. Glenn Youngkin’s speech at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Protestors interrupt Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin as he speaks at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (on left) smiles onstage with Virginia Tech President Timothy Sands at the podium as protestors disrupted the governor speaking at the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin was interrupted speaking on stage, stepped off and waits for protestors to be escorted out of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
Gov. Glenn Youngkin speaks to Metro Board Chair Paul Smedberg as protestors disrupt the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus ribbon cutting, Feb. 28, 2025 (staff photo by James Cullum)
A celebration of the Virginia Tech Innovation Campus opening today in Potomac Yard was derailed when protests started shortly after Governor Glenn Youngkin arrived.
Protestors stood from the audience and approached the stage singing “Ain’t Gonna Study War No More”.
Flyers passed out by protestors condemned Virginia Tech’s relationships with Amazon, BAE Systems and Boeing.
“The Virginia Tech Innovation Campus proudly boasts at least four of the world’s largest weapons manufacturers as our sponsors!” the protestors’ flyer said.
Protestors left the building after a little more than five minutes.
“It’s amazing, everybody wanted to be here today,” Youngkin said when he took the stage again after protestors left.
Vernon Miles is the ALXnow cofounder and editor. He's covered Alexandria since 2014 and has been with Local News Now since 2018. When he's not reporting, he can usually be found playing video games or Dungeons and Dragons with friends.
